Jay Kim is joining the Studio Other team as an Account Manager, previously working as a Sales Manager for a top Korean furniture manufacturer. When you meet him, ask him about the time his grandmother taught him judo or what it's like to eat live octopus. Jay's many accomplishments, industry experience and team player attitude will make him a great fit— we look forward to what he will bring to the Studio Other table (and the team party he's planned). Welcome, Jay, we’re happy to have you!
1. Name, title?
Jay Kim, Account Manager
2. Where is your hometown?
Alexandria, VA
3. What type of company did you work at previously and what was your role there?
Previously I worked as a Sales Manager for a top office furniture manufacturer from Korea. My main accomplishments were in developing and implementing sales strategies to acquire new corporate accounts and furthering business with existing accounts. I was responsible for creating sales funnels with high conversion rates and became adapt at profitability analysis to leave the highest margins possible. Also, I am experienced in all facets of project management as I directly oversaw multiple multimillion-dollar corporate projects.
4. What is a fun fact about yourself?
During my early elementary school years, I lived with my grandmother for a few years in South Korea. Unfortunately being a kid from America without many friends caused me to become a target of bullying even at a young age. A group of kids would verbally and physically bully me on my way back home after school. I eventually told my grandmother what was going on as I had to explain the bruises on my face. Surprisingly she did not visit the school or tried to speak to their parents. Instead, she attempted to teach me self defense against the bullies with her background in judo.She trained me every night in judo even after one night accidentally crashing into the fish tank, but luckily she was not seriously injured. After weeks of training with my grandmother, I finally defended myself and took one of the bullies down. Although I was outnumbered and eventually thrown off of him by his friends, they no longer bullied me as before. When I came back to America, I was again a new kid from a different country and bullied once again. This time the bullying did not last long however, as by this time I had official training from a judo academy and could defend myself much easier. Once the bullying stopped I was easily able to make new friends.Through these early years, I learned valuable lessons that helped shape me into the person I am today. First, I realized that I might have the toughest grandmother in the world. Second, I learned to be calm and confident under duress and be able to handle stressful situations well. Third, I acclimated to adapting quickly to new environments where everything was foreign to me. Fourth, I became mentally fortified against any ridicule, discouragement, or slight that I might face. And most importantly, I learned how to get along with people of different backgrounds and cultures through shared respect.
5. If you were trapped on an island which three things would you want to have with you and why?
Assuming I am trapped on the island because it is remote or deserted;
- An inkless metal pen because it can be used in extreme conditions, will not run out of ink, and its metal tip will last as long as I do. Besides being able to keep records of events on the island, writing would keep my sanity intact. And it will allow me to write one heck of a novel like Cast Away but based on a true story.
- Top of the line fishing poles preferably with Shimano Stella spinning wheels because if you teach a man to fish you can feed him a lifetime and that is the most useful skill I currently possess to survive this predicament.
- My lovely wife as long as she does not blame me for being trapped on the island and we can eventually escape safely and still in love.
6. What is the craziest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Live Octopus (the only dish that encourages you to play with your food)
7. What are you most looking forward to in your new role at Studio Other?
I truly look forward to taking my career to the next level at an organization with the infrastructure, resources, capacity, and renowned reputation that Studio Other provides.After working mostly with predetermined designed products, I am excited to create and represent projects that are original and unique for each client. I am eager to learn about our complete process of innovative custom furniture solutions and therefore have the tools at my disposal to work together with clients to bring their company’s distinct cultural vision to life in a way I never could before with lineups based on a catalog.
8. What is your go-to Karaoke song and why?
Beauty and a Beat because it features my favorite male & female artists’ collaboration and it always gets people up to dance like its 3012!
9. You’re throwing a party, what would be the theme and who would be the guest of honor?
I would throw an Avengers-themed party for our entire team. The guest of honor would be our esteemed leader Ms. Charlotte Wiederholt whose innovative vision created Studio Other. Avengers was celebrated for bringing together diverse heroes of various abilities that assembled under the same objective of avenging the death of half of the world’s population and bringing them back to life. Similarly, I would like to celebrate our team of diverse professionals of various backgrounds that came together under the common objective of providing custom furniture solutions that capture each client’s brand through their unique workspace. As a team, we will be able to celebrate even greater success of acquiring clients that we can assist by bringing life back into each brand through their distinct working environment.
10. What do you hope to bring to the Studio Other team?
I believe my previous experiences in the furniture industry have prepared me to be successful in my role as an Account Manager. I have worked in all facets of sales and customer acquisition and I understand how to cultivate new relationships and develop existing ones. As I have accomplished before I am confident I will be able to follow up leads with high conversion rates while producing the highest possible profits.Of course, any accomplishments would only be the result of strong teamwork that I would share with our team of sales, designers, installers, and managers. I plan to bring excellent communication and collaborative skills to grow together as a team and hopefully assume more leadership roles when the time comes. And as an experienced project manager, I can be trusted to correctly handle and resolve any issues that may arise from the project itself or team members.All in all, I can guarantee that I will perform to the highest standard possible and will continually improve and develop myself to grow within the company as time goes on. Thank you for the opportunity and I look forward to representing Studio Other!
